In the Florida Senate race, Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has a
commanding 61 - 33 percent lead over U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris among likely voters,
including leaners, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Six percent
are undecided and 18 percent of likely voters who name a candidate say they could change
their mind in the next four weeks.

"Congresswoman Harris has made some progress in her race against Sen. Nelson,
but with four weeks until the election, it isn't nearly enough to make her a serious threat to
the incumbent," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.

"Floridians, by almost a two-to-one margin, still view her unfavorably - an
indication of just how difficult a task she faces. In order to win, she'll have to convince
Floridians she is not who they think she is."

Only 20 percent of Florida voters have a favorable opinion of Harris, with 37
percent unfavorable, 16 percent mixed and 26 percent who haven't heard enough to form
an opinion.

Nelson gets a 31 - 12 percent favorability, with 19 percent mixed and 38 percent
who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

"For a politician who has held statewide office for more than a decade, Sen.
Nelson's profile is surprisingly fuzzy. Four in 10 voters say they need to know more about
him before they can decide if they view him favorably or unfavorably," Brown said.

"But it doesn't matter because Congresswoman Harris is so weak. She is losing a
quarter of the Republican vote and more than 60 percent of the independent vote and
getting only half of the white evangelical vote - a recipe for electoral disaster for a
Republican in Florida."

Bush Approval

Florida voters disapprove 59 - 37 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing.
Voters say 55 - 28 percent that the U.S. is losing the war in Iraq, and 44 - 39 percent that the U.S.
is losing the war on worldwide terrorism.

From October 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 968 Florida registered voters
with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points. The survey includes 783 likely voters,
with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Nelson is handling his job as
United States Senator?

11. If the 2006 election for senator were being held today and the candidates
were Bill Nelson the Democrat and Katherine Harris the Republican, for whom
would you vote?(If undecided q11) As of today, do you lean more toward Nelson
or Harris? This table includes Leaners.